Wind-controlled steering gear



H. A. LEE

WIND CONTROLLED STEERING GEAR Aug. 21, 1921; 1,681,415

Filed June 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,415

H. A. LEE

WIND CONTROLLED STEERING GEAR Filed June 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 155M040 14 l. z s

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

. HAROLD A. LEE, or SUVA, EIJI ISLANDS.

WIND-CONTROLLED STEERING GEAR.

, Application filed June 29. 1925. Serial No. 40,316.

This invention relates particularly to sailing vessels both large or small; including toy or model yachts, and also in parttothe steering gear of boats and ships of all sorts.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means by which the direction of the prevailing wind will control the direction of a sailing vessel and keep it true to its course, and also means which will make a heavy rudder subject to quick and positive control through the relatively small energy of a wind vane which forms the controlling element of the system, or energy from any other source.

Briefly described my invention comprises arranging a wind vane on a sail boat at any convenient place such as the mast head, bowsprit, or any place on deck where a steady undisturbed flow of Wind may be had and then by suitable gearing from the wind vane to especially sensitive rudder throwing mechanism the wind vane is made to hold the rudder in a fixed relation with regard to the wind direction so that the boat will at all times be held to her course and if for any reason the boat should be turned out of her course the wind acting on the vane will throw the rudder over (relative to the boat) so that the boat will be brought back to her original course as determined by the setting of the vane.

The drawings hereto show the application of my system of Wind controlled steering to a boat, here considered to be a. model yacht, and

Figure 1 shows a yacht with the controlling wind vane at the masthead and with the responsive. rudder mechanism carried on a bracket projecting from the stern of the boat.

Figure is an enlarged view of the-rear end of a boat showing the rudder mechanism as built within the outlines of: the hull and operating through a well extending vertically through the boat.

Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 2 showing the wind vane operating connections extending to the rudder mechanism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the mast head showing a. desirable arrangement of the vane and its vertical spindle as for use on a model yacht.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged details in plan and elevation respectively of the pointer device at the foot of the mast for v 7 6O Figure 8 we plan ot a modified auxiliary rudder throwing gear carried on the main rudder, and 9 l1 igure 9 is an elevation thereof.

In the figures the controlling wind Vane 1 is shown as secured to a -vertieal spindle 2 either revolva-bly supported from the mast 3 by suitable eyelets or bearings L as'shown in Figure 1, or by a suitable standard 5 as shown in Figure 7;

At the foot of the mast or standard the spindle is provided with across armG fitting. loosely thereover and a pointer arm 7 v to the spindle.

The pointer arm 7 being secured to the spindle provides for turning the spindle to swing the vane in any desired relation to. thc'boat and iorlockmg it to the cross arm secured by means of a pin 8 which is dropped through the pointer arm into any one of the holes arm. r

From the cross arm extend a pairof crossed cords 17 or ropes sternward to a similar cross arm 10 on the rudder throwing gear so that as the wind controls the vane the spindle will turn this way or that and by pulling either cord from the cross arm will keep a constant control of the rudder.

As it is manifest that the slight eiiort exerted by a wind vane under these conditions could not throw a rudder ii directly con nected thereto, I provide a special rudder gearing to make it possible and which comprises pivoting the main rudder 11 firmly to the boat at 12 as shown in Figure 2 or to the extending bracket 13 of Figure 1, and of then pivoting an auxiliary or control 9 around the centerof the cross rudder 14 to the main rudder and extending forward of the main rudder pivots 12.

This small or control rudder extends forward and rearward of its pivotal support on the main rudder, but mostly rearward and is verv easil turned and it is to the ing the water overbalances, as it were, the main rudder so that the main rudder is thrown over to turn the vessel.

lVhen the main rudder is thus thrown over by the deflecting action of the forwardly projecting control rudder it carries the latter bodily with it, and therefore the stock 15 of the control rudderextends through a well 16 to provide for its bodily movement. 7

When the control rudder is thus bodily moved on an are from the pivots of the main rudder it carries the cross arm 10 with it thereby changing the distance between the cross arms, but since the displacement is relatively small compared to the usual length of the cords 17 the difference is compensated for by the cords stretching, tho for larger vessels where chains or cables may be used, I avoid the feature mentioned. by placing the rear cross arm axially on the upper end 18 of the main rudder stock 18 and with a gear 19 fixed to the arm free to turn on the stock as a pivot, then I secure a similar gear 20 to the stock 15 of the control rudder and connect the two gears by an idler gear 21 carried on an arm 22 from the main rudder stock all as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

By the arrangement just described the rear arm turns on the pivot 18' formed on the upper end of the main rudder stock and operates the control rudder through the gearing thus preserves the distance between the two cross arms.

It should be understood Without adding more sheets of drawings that tho I show the ropes 17 also the gears 19, 20, 21 and cross arms (5 and 10 all above deck as they would be for simplicity sake in a. model yacht, yet they may ust as well be below deck as with ordinary tiller ropes.

Also, if desired a hand tiller may be secured to the control rudder stock as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or on the gear 19 of Figure 8.

\Vhen the hand tiller used as descril'led, it merely throws the control rudder l l and the latter actuates the main rudder, there fore, provides for operating the main rudder with very little effort.

\Vhen applying my wind controlled rudder system to model yachts, it is desirable to reduce friction at every point by suitable bearings and in Figure 4 the weight of the control vane 1 is shown carried by a pair of glass beads 23, and for ease of installation the vertical vane spindle 2 is preferably linked or joined as at 2 I claim:

A device of the type described comprising a main rudder pivoted to a boat, a control rudder pivoted to the main rudder, means for operating the control rudder, said means including a lever having a circular row of openings disposed concentrically about the pivot point of the lever, said control rudder being operatively connected to an arm, said arm being conncctible by means of a fastening member to any one of the desired openings in said lever.

HAROLD A. LE E. 

